If your company has a Web site, the world is strolling past your virtual storefront. Attracting some of those international shoppers could be good for your business.
Georgia is ranked 12th among states in exports, with $28.7 billion in goods in 2011, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Research shows that companies that sell overseas grow 18 percent faster on average than businesses that don’t. Their work force is typically 10 percent to 15 percent more productive, too.
“Too often, small retailers and manufacturers aren’t paying attention to buyers from overseas. They limit themselves to national sales because they are intimidated by doing business in the international arena, but adding those customers could be a real money-making opportunity,” said Rick Martin, director of the Georgia SBDC Network’s International Trade Center.
Exports are growing in Georgia and the United States, and 97 percent of exporting firms are small and medium-sized enterprises, Martin said.
“Several factors are making U.S. goods more attractive. The value of the U.S. dollar has dropped,” he said. “Another is our reputation for quality products and excellent service. The weaker dollar is making American products more affordable.”
If you want to learn about the basics of selling overseas, there’s a course for you. The Kennesaw State University Small Business Development Center is offering “Expand Your Business’s Borders” on Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $69.
The course will cover the characteristics of an exportable product; how to change your Web site to pull in international customers; how to respond to international inquiries; how to avoid scams; and the legalities of selling abroad.
“We’ll discuss real cases, like a Cobb County hobby shop that is expanding its business by selling military figurines to a buyer in Germany. The figurines were actually made in England, but the buyer liked the quality of the product and he found the Web site and prices attractive,” Martin said.
Georgia Chopsticks in Americus is another success story, he noted. The company is using Georgia timber to make and export disposable chopsticks to China, which uses 45 billion of the utensils every year. China is running out of wood, so the Georgia-made product is in hot demand. The Americus factory hired 57 workers initially and has been steadily adding employees.
“Almost any retailer or small manufacturer can do business abroad, especially if it has a unique product. It doesn’t have to be high-tech,” Martin said.
Companies wanting to expand their market internationally will find good resources available to help them in Georgia, Martin said. The Georgia SBDC Network supports Export-U.com, a free export training Web site. The Georgia Department of Economic Development also offers assistance to potential exporters.
For information about the class at Kennesaw State, call 770-423-6450 or go to http://sbdc.kennesaw.edu.
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